Hurricane season is right around the corner and predictions are for an above-average season.

That's news nobody wants to hear, especially those in Florida still recovering from three hurricanes that made landfall in the state in 2024.

? Weather alerts via text: Sign up to get updates about current storms and weather events by location

Advice from forecasters and emergency officials is unanimous: the time to prepare for a storm is now, before a hurricane is on its way. A big part of those preparations is building a hurricane supplies kit, but that may be difficult for some.

Here are some suggestions on building an emergency supplies on a budget.

When is hurricane season?

The Atlantic hurricane season starts June 1 and ends Nov. 30.

Countdown to start of hurricane season

What should I have in a hurricane supplies kit?

Common supplies emergency officials and forecasters said you should have in your emergency kit include:

? Florida law allows early prescription refills under certain emergency conditions, hurricanes included

Here are a few sites offering disaster supply checklists:

Build a hurricane kit on a budget with items you need

You can build a disaster preparedness kit on a budget. Here are some suggestions from ready.gov and FEMA:

Emergency Food Assistance Program works with states to distribute foods, funds to organizations

The Emergency Food Assistance Program is a U.S. Department of Agriculture food distribution program that:

In Florida, the state Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services administers the Emergency Food Assistance Program, "facilitating the distribution of USDA foods and funds to participating organizations.

"Donated foods, including The Emergency Food Assistance Program foods, are distributed through local food pantries, soup kitchens and other emergency feeding organizations."

Who is eligible for Emergency Food Assistance Program?

Households are eligible for Emergency Food Assistance Program if:

Contact local food banks or food pantries to see if they have programs that can help

Feeding Florida works in partnership with nine Feeding America affiliated food banks in Florida.

"Feeding Florida network provides over millions of pounds of food to Floridians facing hunger. This past fiscal year, our food banks provided 404 million pounds of food to the 2.9 million Floridians facing hunger" including:

? Find a food bank near you

Farm Share distributes food through network of food pantries, churches, senior centers

According to its website, "Farm Share distributes food to the community through its network of soup kitchens, food pantries, homeless shelters, churches and senior centers across the state of Florida, free of charge."

Farm Share also distributes food throughout the state. See its calendar of locations and times of food distribution events.

Many of the food distribution events are first come, first served, while supplies last.

? Find a food pantry near you

Florida divided into 20 regions for distribution of Emergency Food Assistance Program

Florida sites responsible for distributing food and funds from Emergency Food Assistance Program are:

Check with your employer to see if HSA or FSA funds can be used for emergency supplies

Does your employer have Health Savings Accounts and Flexible Spending Accounts?

If so, and you participate, see whether any of those pre-tax funds can be used to buy emergency supplies.

Stay informed. Get weather alerts via text

What's next?

We will start our daily tropical weather coverage on May 15. Download your local site's app to ensure you're always connected to the news. And look for our special subscription offers here.

Already have a subscription but never signed in before?Get started

Get unlimited access with a subscription

Choose your plan. Cancel anytime.

Digital

Annual

$99 for the first year

Daily digital access on any desktop, tablet, or mobile device

Monthly

$1 for the first month

Daily digital access on any desktop, tablet, or mobile device

Digital + Print

Sunday

$1 for the first month

Print delivery + daily digital access & USA TODAY Crossword

Sunday - Friday

$1 for the first month

Print delivery + daily digital access & USA TODAY Crossword

Did you know: Every plan comes with a digital subscription to share.

What's included

Digital plans

Digital + Print

Daily digital access

Android and IOS apps

Subscriber-exclusive content

Digital subscription to share

The eNewspaper — a digital replica of the print newspaper.

Print newspaper delivery

USA TODAY Digital Crossword

Group subscriptions

We have customizable plans for corporations, schools, libraries, government agencies and hotels.

Corporate programsEducation programs

No commitment required. Cancel anytime.

Offer available to new customers only. Read the full subscription terms.

Need help?

Call 1-800-541-2171 and give offer code W-JZ to subscribe.

Questions? Call 1-800-541-2171

HelpTerms of ServicePrivacy PolicyResponsible DisclosureYour Privacy Choices

© 2025 www.ocala.com

An Ocala doctor who was reprimanded over a decade ago for performing surgery on the wrong vertebrae in a patient’s back, is facing potential revocation or suspension of his license for allegedly misreading a CT scan and misdiagnosing a different patient who had been suffering from severe brain swelling for over a week.

The Florida Department of Health filed an administrative complaint against Dr. John Socrates Scales on May 9.

According to the complaint, on July 24, 2019, a then 24-year-old male patient visited AdventHealth Ocala with complaints of a “headache for eight days and nausea.”

A computed tomography (CT) scan was performed on the patient’s brain revealing “several abnormalities.” Those abnormalities included:

Despite the abnormalities, Scales allegedly reported that there were “no acute intracranial findings” and that an MRI “may be of benefit” if the patient’s symptoms “remain unchanged.”

During the patient’s treatment, the complaint says Scales fell “below the minimum standard of care” by failing to interpret the CT scan and “identifying at least one” of the abnormalities.

“Section 766.102, Florida Statutes (2019), provides that the prevailing standard of care for a given health care provider shall be that level of care, skill and treatment which, in light of all relevant surrounding circumstances, is recognized as acceptable and appropriate by reasonably prudent similar health care providers,” reads a portion of the complaint.

Based on the misdiagnosis, the complaint suggests Scales violated the law and should face penalization, including but not limited to “permanent revocation or suspension of” his license, “restriction of practice, imposition of an administrative fine, issuance of a reprimand,” probation, continuing education, and/or “other relief that the FLDOH deems appropriate.”

A profile maintained by the FLDOH shows that Scales currently lists his address of record as Radiology Associates of Ocala (1490 S Magnolia Ave, Suite 1). That profile shows that his license is valid through January 2027.

It also shows that Scales was previously reprimanded in 2016 for performing surgery on the wrong part of a patient’s back. During that incident, Scales performed a kyphoplasty on a patient’s T11 vertebrae, instead of the T12 vertebrae. A kyphoplasty is a minimally invasive surgical procedure that is used to treat vertebrae compression fractures.

Now that the complaint has been filed, Scales has the right to request a hearing in accordance with Florida law to defend himself against the charges. A hearing request must be received within 21 days of receipt of the complaint.

Click on the orange button above and tell others about your experience at TruEAR, A HearingLife Company - Ocala (East) to help them find the hearing care they need.

Clinic details

TruEAR - A HearingLife Company

TruEAR - A HearingLife Company

Hearing Aid Sales - Here are just a few of the most popular brands we carry: Widex, Starkey, Phonak, Unitron, Signia, Rexton, Oticon and ReSound GN. Custom made hearings aids also available

Listed here are some of the remarkable advancements in hearing-aid technology:

Using Insurance To Pay For Hearing Aids - We accept insurance from many companies. The best way to be certain is to call us to handle the details. We will spend the time on the phone to confirm whether your insurance will cover your purchase.

CareCredit® Accepted - CareCredit allows you to pay for expenses not covered by health insurance using special financing. Credit Card - We accept all major credit cards, which provide you with a quick and easy way to pay for your hearing aids.

**You have the right to receive a “Good Faith Estimate” explaining how much your medical care will cost.

Hearing care services

At TruEAR - A HearingLife Company, our team is highly trained and certified in audiology and hearing aid expertise. We collaborate closely with a prominent local ear, nose and throat (ENT) physicians practice.

We are dedicated to assisting individuals in reestablishing connections with their loved ones by enhancing their hearing. Our commitment revolves around improving your hearing experience and enjoying your life more fully. Your contentment with the hearing solution we recommend for you is of utmost importance to us. We know that the more you understand your hearing challenges and potential remedies available, the more informed your purchasing decision will be, ensuring your happiness.

Our relationship with our patients extends beyond the fitting of your hearing aids. we are committed to providing you with continuous office visits to ensure the ongoing effectiveness of your hearing aids.

10 Reasons To Talk To Us

Request my appointment

Ocala tops the list of Florida’s most affordable cities, offering small-town charm, equestrian appeal, and big value for homebuyers.

With its rolling hills, shady live oaks, and thriving equestrian scene, Ocala already has bucolic appeal. But according to a new study by Cinch Home Services using real estate data retrieved from Realtor.com, there’s another thing to love about this small central Florida city: the real estate in Ocala has the cheapest price per square foot in Florida, making it one of the most affordable metros in the Sunshine State.

At just $183.32 per square foot, Ocala tops the list of Florida’s most affordable cities for homebuyers, with a median list price of $303,575 and an average property size of 1,656 square feet. That’s 58% cheaper than Naples-Marco Island, Florida’s priciest metro area.

“Our study reveals that Florida reflects a broader national real estate trend of more affordable inland homes versus premium coastal properties,” a spokesperson from Cinch Home Services told Southern Living. “While Naples and Miami command higher prices due to their location and luxury appeal, inland metros like Ocala offer significantly more house for your dollar without compromising on Florida’s core lifestyle benefits.

“Additionally, Ocala’s housing market has remained relatively stable compared to the more volatile coastal markets, making it potentially less vulnerable to future market corrections.”

And with Marion County known as the “Horse Capital of the World,” living in Ocala is no compromise, at least not for those who love horses and simpler countryside living.

Plus, with the $800 million World Equestrian Center—one of the largest equestrian complexes in the country, complete with the luxurious Equestrian Hotel, seven restaurants, a spa, dozens of boutiques, miles of walking trails, and more than 20 equestrian competition rings—the area draws a global crowd of riders, breeders, and spectators. It’s basically Disney World for horse lovers (though the real thing is only an hour-and-a-half drive away).

In fact, after the 2021 debut of the World Equestrian Center, the “city within a city” was named one of TIME’s World’s Greatest Places in 2024. It’s one of the main drivers of Ocala’s massive growth in recent years; the city was recently included in U.S. News & World Report’s list of fastest-growing places in the U.S.

And Ocala has even more on the horizon: The Shoppes Off 80th, an 80,000-square-foot outdoor shopping and dining venue, is slated to open in 2026. It’s conveniently located next to The Riding Academy Hotel and will feature luxury brands, an additional four restaurants, and a massive event center.

Still, if horse country isn’t your speed, there are other options; following Ocala, the next most affordable metros in Florida are Lakeland-Winter Haven, Homosassa Springs, Sebring, and Pensacola.

In a state where sunshine comes at a premium, opting for just-off-the-coast or inland areas like Ocala means the dream of living in Florida doesn’t have to be out of reach, and you don’t even need to wait for retirement.